1. On priorities (): 21:33

You will have plenty of time for a love life later on. For now,
concentrate on your studies. But then, it's your choice. I can't be
watching you all the time, so you would have to watch yourself and
decide which or who(m) are your priorities. Just remember that there
are rewards, repercussions or complications - depending on what
actions or decisions you make. Judge well what is good for you.

>

Love you always,
Mom

>

P.S. See, you do have a love life. We all love you. I more than and
ahead of anybody and everybody else.

So, here are my priorities as of 20030113, not necessarily in order:

- Get a PhD. The training will help me do research, and I'll be able

to pick up useful teaching techniques along the way.

- Teach computer science. I really, really like computer science, and

I want to help other people realize how fun and helpful it is.

- Help people grow and reach their potential. (That includes helping

myself grow. =) ) Still have to figure out how to help people do that.

I'm not completely devoted to this plan, and by that I mean that I
understand that I am not absolutely essential to the progress and
development of computer science. Still, I really like the field, and
as one of those rare girls who actually enjoy computer science, I feel
I have an opportunity to make a big difference. =)

I don't think I want to have to deal with the possible complications
of "being in luuuuuurv" until I've earned my PhD and have established
a name for myself. So that pretty much rules out formal, long-term,
conventional romantic relationships (eeeeew! ) for a long
time. I suppose that should postpone all dilemmas until after I finish
graduate school, by which time I should have a better understanding of
all of this.

This does not, however, prevent me from appreciating the friends I
have. I know that really good friendships help me grow as a person and
achieve my dreams, and indeed the warmth and support I receive from my
family and friends is something I treasure.

And it really is rather nice to interact with people. I
think I have recently figured out how to get around my occasional
spells of antisocial-ness. It seems to be simply a matter of practice
and will, and I must give credit to some friends who don't know that
they helped me figure it out.

There is something to be said about love and growth, if my Philosophy
and Theology classes have any truth to them. I also have to watch out
- might become _too_ rational or need too much control over my
life. ;) Like for example, I have a bit of a hang-up regarding the
word "love", since it can mean quite different things to people, and
I'm a little afraid of becoming incontinent as defined by
Aristotle. (See? I get to use Philo after all.) Distraction is
doubleplus ungood, but so is neurosis.

I love computer science not just because of the abstract algorithms
and programs, but more because of the people I get to meet and help
and learn from. So I'm into this whole social thing, but I'm just
taking things a little at a time. Kinda like the spiral model of
software development. ;)

I'm sure we'll all manage to figure something out. =) So basically,
people know my plans. If you think that you can help me become a
better person and that I can help you become a better person, then
we'll see how things work out.

This is published for future reference, since it's nice to have more
information. =)

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Page: 2003.01.13

Updated: 2004-11-2106:44:1306:44:13-0500

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